Zee JLF 2018 | Taking the lid off: Decoding CMs of UP

“People think it was Yogi who coined the term ‘Love Jihad’ but I have seen it being mentioned in 2007-08 by British and Canadian authors, Congress CM Oommen Chandny, also the issue was raised on floor by CPM leader Veer Sacchidanad, Kerala High Court has also took into account of it and there is one case going in Supreme Court as well. But people will keep blaming Yogi for it,” said Shantanu Gupta author of ‘The Monk Who Became Chief Minister’ during the session titled ‘The craft of political biography’. There were many other aspects related to the life of the two most influential CM of UP- Yogi Adityanath and Mayawati, that were discussed during the session. Following are some excerpts

Shantanu Gupta: Selling a point

The best thing about writing a biography is that you can write on contemporary issues and at the same time you can have a selling point. While I was writing the biography I read hundreds of articles and saw videos on Yogi Adityanath. I met his family members and other school and college colleagues. Four unique points about him included that he was young and only 44-year-old, but this fact was always hidden under the saffron rope. At such a young age he become MP five times. Moreover, he has asked more questions than average number of questions asked by any MP. He is asking questions typical of Shashi Tharoor. He is conducting Janta Darbar from last two decades. He initially joined SFI and left it within 2 days to join ABVP. After Modi, Yogi is the most searched CM.

Tracing faults: Ajoy Bose

When I started writing the biography of UP’s former CM Mayawati, people didn’t want me to write it, but I still wrote it. In today’s time, politicians are more interested in political brochures rather than a political biography. When I wrote the book, I kept myself away from the subject. The then principal secretary told me that I should not disclose in advance anything to her about the book.I have also criticised her and mentioned how a Dalit teacher turned CM. It was really difficult to write the relationship between her mentor Kashiram and her and I maintained distance from her while writing the book. As a biographer, it’s my responsibility to trace faults as well. The story of Mayawati fighting with a wolf is as honest as that of Modi fighting with a crocodile. Mayawati worked hard to strengthen the cadre of the party, but for now, she is just an electoral mobile machinery.